Post-captain

Post´-cap`tain

n.

1.

A captain of a war vessel whose name appeared, or was "posted," in the seniority list of the British navy, as distinguished from a commander whose name was not so posted. The term was also used in the United States navy; but no such commission as post-captain was ever recognized in either service, and the term has fallen into disuse.

Although Charles was promoted Post-Captain in 1810 and saw more action thereafter than his brother, neither achieved any real distinction, and Charles's reputation was tarnished, through no fault of his own, by an incompetent local pilot causing the wreck of his frigate off the coast of Turkey in 1816.

At the same time, Francis, who had been promoted to Post-Captain in 1800, was serving ashore, but as he was in Kent courting the woman who became his first wife, the Austen family may have considered Francis well-placed where he was.

In May 1810 Charles was promoted Post-Captain and became Flag Captain to Admiral Sir John Warren in the 74-gun H.

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